In September 2022, during a roundtable interviewwithIGN, RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama claimed that the Yakuza series was too mature for Nintendo’s child-friendly hybrid console. Even though the likes of Resident Evil and DOOM were already available on the platform.
Alas, two years after that interview, we will soon be playing the entire Yakuza series on theNintendo Switch, beginning withYakuza Kiwami, a remake initially released in 2016 of the original game that launched for the PlayStation 2 in 2005.
Check out theYakuza Kiwamitrailer below!
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Yakuza Kiwamifinds itself in a unique position from a storytelling perspective. It depicts Kiryu’s fall from grace and his ascension in the criminal ranks, but he never deviates from his moral code. Yet,YakuzaKiwamiis as wacky as it gets with lots of laugh-out-loud moments before turning you into an emotional, blubbering wreck with its well-written twists and turns.
SEGA
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The elephant in the room when it comes toYakuza Kiwamion the Nintendo Switch is that you’re probably wondering how it performs when you’re fighting large groups of enemies. I’m pleased to say that it performs well and I never noticed anything off-putting when it comes to framerate dips. Moreover, the finely detailed cinematic cut-scenes never cease to impress me which helps to elevate the story that it’s telling.
It’s worth mentioning for new fans wanting to jump into this series thatYakuza Kiwamihas no English-speaking actors. It’s presented in its native Japanese language with subtitles for the respective regions. However, as I found out when trying the English dub in recent games such asLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, nothing compares to the original Japanese actors who deliver a level of performance and passion that exceeds all expectations.
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If you’re exclusively a Nintendo Switch gamer, then this port is an ideal place to begin your journey in the series. That being said, if you’re a returning fan who has been desperate to play this series on the go,Yakuza Kiwamiis a dream come true - especially if you thought this day would never come. Now if you excuse me, I’m off to sing some karaoke with Kiryu and his friends.
Pros:Action is as fun as ever, gripping story, performs well on the Switch
Cons:It’s a basic port
For fans of:Shenmue, Like a Dragon
Topics:Nintendo,Nintendo Switch,Reviews,Sega,Yakuza
